Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Support
Welcome! We are glad you are here. We hope this page can help you and your family reach your lactation goals. You will also find lactation support information for employers and employees.
Benefits and resources
Breastfeeding is the best, most nurturing way of feeding your baby – something special you can do for your child.
General information about breastfeeding
- About breastfeeding - Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
- Benefits of breastfeeding for parents and baby.
- Preparing and learning to breastfeed - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Get support
- Lactation Resources in Ramsey County (PDF)
- Hospitals and clinics offer lactation services, often from an International Board-Certified Lactation Counselor (IBCLC).
- Find classes in the community and peer groups.
- Ramsey County Lactation Lounge
- Highland Library: drop in lactation support, get questions answered, socialize, connect.
Adoption and relactating
- Relactating
- Starting breast/chestfeeding after a period of interruption or stopping.
- Inducing lactation
- Adoptive parents and non-gestational parents may desire to breast/chestfeed their baby. It is possible to start making milk without going through a pregnancy and birth.
- The process of inducing lactation involves stimulation of the nipple and breast by pumping, hand expression, and/or direct suckling by the child and it may involve the use of herbs and medications with the guidance of a medical provider.
Expressing breastmilk and storage of milk
- Human Milk Storage Guidelines.
- Electric Pump and Hands-on Pumping (video) - getting the most out of your pumping session.
- Hand Expression - helpful if you don't have access to your breast pump.
Laws protecting pregnancy and lactation
Minnesota State laws that protect people
Pumping at work
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Protections to Pump at Work - U.S. Department of Labor.
Questions
Need more information, or your employer is unwilling to comply with the law:
- Email: [email protected]
- Call: 651-284-5075
- Visit: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Pregnant workers and new parents' rights
- Know your rights (video).
- Pregnancy and parental leave at work (video).
- Pregnant workers and new parents - Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
New parent brochures in PDF format:
- Are you pregnant or a new parent?
- ¿Está embarazada o es madre primeriza?
- Puas yog koj xeeb tub lossis nyuam qhuav ua ib leej niam ib leej txiv?
- Uur ma leedahay mise waalid cusub ayaad tahay?
Women's Economic Security Act (WESA)
Employees returning to work
Back to work and school
Helpful information for parents returning to work.
-
Back to Work: Information about parental leave, returning to work, expressing milk, childcare and more.
- The laws mentioned in link may not be accurate for Minnesota. For information about MN law, please refer to the Laws Protecting Pregnancy and Lactation section on this page.
Forgot your pump? Try hand expression.
- Hand expression - Use your hands to express your milk. This is free and always available.
Getting the most of your pumping session
Proper storage and preparation of breast milk
Resources for employers
- Frequently Asked Questions - Women's Economic Security Act (WESA).
- The Business case for Breastfeeding - why employers should support their lactating employees.
- Employers supporting lactating employees (video).
Requirements of a lactation space:
- Close to the work area.
- A space other than a bathroom.
- Shielded from view.
- Free from intrusion from coworkers and the public.
- Close to a working electrical outlet.
- If no space exists, the employer may temporarily designate a space or make a space available when needed by employee. Must be a functional space (has a place to sit other than floor, flat surface to place pump/equipment).
- Become a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace recognized by the Minnesota Department of Health to best support your employees.
Employer support
Support may be available to your workplace to create a lactation space. Reach out to Ramsey County SHIP.
Organizations that serve the public
- Guide to help your organization support breastfeeding families (PDF) - Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health and SHIP.
- Breast/chestfeeding Friendly Public Spaces in Ramsey County, MN (video).
Culturally specific information
African American
- Strong Black Babies
- Breastfeeding and Birth Services - Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition
Hmong
- Hmong Breastfeeding Coalition - Minnesoat Breastfeeding Coalition
Indigenous
- Indigenous Community - Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition
Breastfeeding basics in various languages
- Breastfeeding videos - Global Health Media
- La Leche League International - website available in multiple languages
Lactation Lounge
A free drop-in breast/chestfeeding support service. Come share tips and socialize with other expecting, breast/chestfeeding and pumping families. Siblings and support people welcome. All families welcome.
- Second Tuesday each month (10 a.m. - noon)
Highland Park Library
1974 Ford Parkway
Saint Paul, MN 55116
Local resources
Saint Paul - Ramsey County Public Health
The Public Health Department is a GOLD level Breastfeeding Friendly Health Department.
Ramsey County WIC Program
Lactation support, nutrition education and food support for children 0-5 years, pregnant and post-partum parents.
- Call: 651-266-1300.
- Visit: Ramsey County WIC.
- Fill out this form to see if you are eligible: Apply for WIC.
Ramsey County SHIP
If you have questions about lactation support, please reach out to SHIP to learn more.
Twin Cities Regional Breastfeeding Coalition (TCRBC)
A group of lactation professionals and advocates in the Metro area. We meet monthly to network, share challenges and opportunities, and collaboratively make the Twin Cities area a better place for lactating families.
Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition
A collection of lactation advocates and professionals, from coalitions and communities, dedicated to a single mission:
Working collaboratively to create environments where breastfeeding is valued and supported to achieve natural infant feeding equity in all Minnesota communities.